Keyboard with adaptive input row

• US 10,409,391 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc., Bragi GmbH
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Silvanto, Mikael M., Zweigle, Erik A., Qi, Jun, Ligtenberg, Christiaan A., Cao, Robert Y., Andre, Bartley K., Anderson, Molly J., Kim, ByoungSuk, Mathew, Dinesh C., Yin, Victor H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lin, Chun-Nan
• Application Number:
  US15/258,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20170090654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04104 Multi-touch detection in digitiser, i.e. details about the simultaneous detection of a plurality of touching locations, e.g. multiple fingers or pen and finger
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04111 Cross over in capacitive digitiser, i.e. details of structures for connecting electrodes of the sensing pattern where the connections cross each other, e.g. bridge structures comprising an insulating layer, or vias through substrate
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0231 Cordless keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0443 using a single layer of sensing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Embodiments related to an electronic device having an adaptive input row. The adaptive input row may be positioned within an opening of a device and include a cover for receiving a touch and a display that is configured to present an adaptable set of indicia. The adaptive input row may also include one or more sensors for detecting the location of a touch and/or the magnitude of a force of the touch. The adaptive input row may be positioned adjacent or proximate to a keyboard of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A laptop computer comprising:

a housing comprising;

an upper portion; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion, the lower portion having an opening;

a primary display positioned at least partially within the upper portion of the housing;

a keyboard positioned at least partially within the lower portion of the housing;

an adaptive input row positioned at least partially within the opening of the lower portion of the housing and along a first side of the keyboard and comprising;

a cover for receiving a touch, wherein an edge of the cover is spaced apart from a side of the opening of the lower portion;

a display positioned below the cover and configured to present an adaptable set of indicia; and

a touch sensor configured to detect a location of the touch; and

a touch input device positioned along a second side of the keyboard opposite to the adaptive input row.

2. The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein:

the adaptive input row is positioned adjacent to a number row of the keyboard; and

wherein the second side of the keyboard is a lower side of the keyboard.

3. The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein:

multiple user-input regions are defined along a length of the cover;

a first user-input region of the multiple user-input regions is responsive to the touch in a first input mode; and

the first user-input region is not responsive to the touch in a second input mode.

4. The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein:

the laptop computer further comprises a force sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of a force of the touch;

the force sensor is positioned below the display; and

the force sensor includes a first pair of capacitive electrodes separated by a compressible layer.

5. The laptop computer of claim 4, wherein the force sensor is configured to provide a seal to prevent an ingress of moisture or liquid into an internal volume of the adaptive input row.

6. The laptop computer of claim 4, wherein:

the first pair of capacitive electrodes is disposed at a first end of the display;

the adaptive input row further comprises a second pair of capacitive electrodes disposed at a second end of the display;

the laptop computer further comprises a sensor circuit operatively coupled to the first and second pairs of capacitive electrodes; and

the sensor circuit is configured to output a signal that corresponds to the location of the touch on the cover based on a relative amount of deflection between the first and second pairs of capacitive electrodes.

7. The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein:

the laptop computer further comprises a force sensor that is configured to detect a magnitude of a force of the touch;

the force sensor is positioned below the display; and

the force sensor comprises an array of force-sensitive structures arranged along a length of the adaptive input row.

8. The laptop computer of claim 1, further comprising:

a processing unit positioned within the housing; and

wherein the primary display is configured to display a graphical-user interface generated by the processing unit.

9. The laptop computer of claim 1, wherein the touch input device comprises a track pad having a selection button.

10. A laptop computer comprising:

a housing comprising;

an upper portion; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion, the lower portion having an opening;

a primary display coupled to the upper portion of the housing;

a set of alpha-numeric keys coupled to the lower portion of the housing; and

an adaptive input row positioned at least partially within the opening of the lower portion of the housing and adjacent to the set of alpha-numeric keys and comprising;

a cover;

a gap formed between an edge of the opening of the lower portion of the housing and the cover;

a display positioned below the cover; and

a sensor configured to detect a location of a touch on the cover, wherein;

the display is configured to display a first set of indicia when the adaptive input row is operated in a first input mode;

output from the sensor is interpreted as a first set of commands when the adaptive input row is in the first input mode;

the display is configured to display a second set of indicia when the adaptive input row is operated in a second input mode; and

output from the sensor is interpreted as a second set of commands when in the second input mode.

11. The laptop computer of claim 10, wherein the adaptive input row includes a touch-sensitive region that extends beyond a display region illuminated by the display.

12. The laptop computer of claim 11, wherein, in response to the touch being located within the touch-sensitive region, the adaptive input row is operable to change the display from the first set of indicia to a third set of indicia.

13. The laptop computer of claim 10, wherein:

a set of programmably defined regions is defined along a length of the adaptive input row; and

the first and second set of indicia are displayed over the set of programmably defined regions.

14. The laptop computer of claim 10, wherein the first set of indicia includes an animated indicium that is responsive to the touch on the cover.

15. The laptop computer of claim 10, wherein the sensor is configured to differentiate between:

a touch gesture input in which the touch is moved across at least a portion of the cover;

a forceful touch input in which the touch exerts a force that exceeds a threshold;

or

a multi-touch input in which multiple touches contact the cover.

16. A laptop computer comprising:

a housing comprising;

an upper portion; and

a lower portion pivotally coupled to the upper portion;

a primary display positioned within the upper portion of the housing;

a keyboard having a set of keys positioned within the lower portion of the housing;

an adaptive input row positioned within the lower portion of the housing and along a side of the set of keys, the adaptive input row comprising;

a cover forming a portion of an exterior surface of the laptop computer, wherein a gap is formed laterally between an edge of the cover and the lower portion of the housing;

a display positioned below the cover; and

a sensor configured to detect a touch within a programmably defined region on the cover.

17. The laptop computer of claim 16, wherein:

the sensor comprises a capacitive touch sensor formed from an array of capacitive nodes; and

the programmably defined region includes a touch-sensitive area detectable by multiple capacitive nodes.

18. The laptop computer of claim 16, wherein the sensor comprises two or more force-sensitive structures configured to detect a location of the touch along a length of the cover and a force of the touch.

19. The laptop computer of claim 16, wherein:

the sensor comprises a force-sensitive structure that is disposed about a perimeter of the display; and

the force-sensitive structure comprises;

an upper capacitive electrode;

a lower capacitive electrode; and

a compressible layer positioned between the upper and lower capacitive electrodes.

20. The laptop computer of claim 19, wherein the force-sensitive structure forms a protective seal around the display.

21. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a primary display positioned within a first portion of the housing;

a keyboard having a set of keys positioned within a second portion of the housing;

an adaptive input row positioned within the second portion of the housing and along a side of the set of keys and comprising;

a cover forming a portion of an exterior surface of the electronic device;

a display positioned below the cover; and

a sensor configured to detect a touch within a programmably defined region on the cover;

a flexible conduit operatively coupled to the display and the sensor, the flexible conduit passing through an opening in the housing located proximate to an end of the adaptive input row;

a gasket positioned about the flexible conduit to form a seal between the flexible conduit and the opening.